That depends on your age. The age of maturity, when Saber cubs become adult members of the tribe, is about 14. That’s roughly the same point when human children graduate to high school on Earth. If you’re 14, or in high school, then drop down to the Name of Maturity section and find out your adult Saber name. Otherwise, it looks as if you’re stuck with a cub name until you turn 14, graduate to high school, or prove yourself to the nearest Saber village.

Cub Names:

Cubs are named by their parents when they are a week old. The parents watch their cubs carefully during these first seven days. Not only are the cubs at their most vulnerable during this time, but the parents are interested in discovering the personality of their child. At the end of the week, the parents name the child based on some action or trait they noticed that they feel best represents the cub. In The Riddle of Fire, Pounce was given his name because his parents noticed that he was able to jump great distances . . . for a week-old cub. What that really meant was that Pounce was able lift up his front paws and then lunge forward to smack his face on the ground. But that’s impressive for someone only a week old. Since Sabers develop faster than humans you aren’t expected to pick some astounding feat you did at one week old. Otherwise, everyone would be named Eat, Sleep, Cry, or . . . you know that thing that happens after you eat. There are two ways of discovering your cub name. 1) Ask your parents what single word best describes you as a baby.

2) Think back to the oldest memory you have of yourself. What were you doing?

Cub names are always a single word and most of the time they are verbs. If you picked the first method for determining your cub name and your parents said that you were a happy baby then you might be Giggles, or Grins, or Smiles. On the other hand if you used the second method to determine your cub name and your oldest memory is of you running then you might be Dash, Sprit, or Rush. Parents sometimes give their cub a name that is embarrassing in the hopes that their child will hate the name and change their behavior. Pounce’s best friends, Tumble and Doze, are both examples of this sort of negative name.

Names of Maturity:

Once a Saber cub passes the Ritual of the Valiant Path, they are given their name of maturity by the village elders. This name can be based on the way they accomplished the ritual or it can be the observation of the cub’s personality while they were growing up. Sometimes it is even based on a memorable event. Crooked-Step was named because of the way he walks after he purposely let a Fire Buffalo run over the top of him. Names of maturity usually have two parts; a noun and an adjective that describes the noun. The reason that adult names are based on nouns is because a fully-grown Saber has become what he was meant to be. Occasionally, an adult Saber is given a single name. This is considered a name of shame and is given to a tiger-folk who has brought dishonor to the tribe. There are a few of ways to determine your name of maturity.

1) What is the biggest event in your life? What role did you play in that event?

2) What is the most important thing in your life? What action does it involve?

3) What thing do you do best? How would you describe yourself doing that?

Here are examples taken from The Riddle of Fire.

1) Shaman Sly-Path was named for the way he craftily passed the ritual of maturity and the way he conducts himself with the other Sabers.

2) The name Hogs-Ball might be an appropriate name for someone who loves sports, but doesn’t play well with the rest of the team.

3) Chieftain Savage Roar received his name from his incredibly powerful roar.

At 14 my name of maturity probably would have been Waiting-Accident because of the number of times I went to the doctor for stitches, x-rays, and other medical aid. But if I received my name of maturity now I think it would be Crazy-Words. Once you figure out your Saber name, post it in the comments section below.